Sports Aug. 03, 2008 - 03:01AM JST ( 1 )

SUNNINGDALE, England —

Yuri Fudoh of Japan shot a 3-under 69 to lead by one stroke after the third round of the Ricoh Women’s British Open on Saturday. Fudoh, who qualified for the tournament by finishing in the top 15 of the championship a year ago at St. Andrews, is at 13-under 203 at Sunningdale and in sight of her first major title.

Ji-Yai Shin of South Korea (70) is second after making a bogey at the 18th. Shin drove her tee shot into the rough, then pulled her second shot into the gallery. Taking a drop, she pitched 20 feet past the hole and then missed the par putt.

Fudoh was the leading money winner on the Japanese LPGA Tour from 2000-05 and has won 45 tournaments in her home country. She is using veteran caddie Peter Coleman, who helped Bernhard Langer win two Masters titles.

“He has helped on the distance and I think 50% of what I have done is because of the caddie,” Fudoh said through an interpreter.

Fudoh said she has no plans to move to the LPGA Tour in the United States. “I don’t think I have enough power to play on the LPGA, like physical condition,” she said.

Ai Miyazato of Japan (68) is two shots back from Fudoh. Then came two Americans, Cristie Kerr (70) and Juli Inkster (71), who are another stroke back.

Wire reports